02/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EP supports the broad lines of the EU/Equatorial Guinea fisheries protocol (1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001), with the adoption of the report by Pat the Cope Gallagher (UEN, Ireland). It invites the Commission to forward it an example of the annual report that Equatorial Guinea is to draft on the measures under the fisheries agreement and a general assessment report on the costs and benefits of this protocol. An amendment stipulates that the Council would give authorisation to the Commission to begin negotiations only after having learnt of the assessment report and after receiving the opinion of the EP. The fisheries protocol provides for licenses to be granted for 30 refrigerator tuna purse seiners, 8 pole-and-line tuna vessels and 30 surface longliners, and the payment by the EU of EUR 200,000 for catches of 4,000 tonnes of tuna as well as EUR 120,100 for financing targeted actions (scientific and technical programmes, surveillance and non-industrial fisheries).